The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum stands as an architectural platform to honor and depict the military experience of Iowa citizens in all wars, homeland defense and Iowa service. Programmatically, there was a need for an enhanced structure to accommodate the existing museum’s growing collection of rare military archives and artifacts, including two aircraft and a submarine periscope. The challenge of the project was to make architecture that would be timeless throughout the decades on a limited budget. The solution to this design challenge is an architectural addition onto the existing muted building. This vast shaped structure made of steel and glass projects from the old building with a transparent knuckle that invites through light and sight. With its soaring, mono-slope roof, it challenges the role of “container” and becomes part of the action. The new extension gives a fundamental re-orientation to the existing building, opening up the view to the historical center of Camp Dodge to welcome visitors at a civic scale. Location: Camp Dodge - Johnston, IA Program: Museum Area: 10,262 SF Renovation, 17,852 SF Addition Client: Iowa Army National Guard Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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“Mission: To provide a safe, secure neighborhood with supportive housing, programs and services which build and develop the strengths of children, adults and families moving them toward sustained self-sufficiency and self-reliance.” The Teen Center provides recreational services to the youth of the Homes of Oakridge, a 300-unit multi-family housing neighborhood. Included in the program is a gym, multipurpose room, exercise room, computer room and an office for staff. It is projected to be the first LEED Platinum building in an affordable housing community in the State of Iowa. This project utilizes solar photovoltaic panels on the roof to provide most of the building’s energy. The soaring shed roof allows ample space for gymnasium activities as well as the opportunity to maximize daylight in the space. Shared interior windows pull light from the gymnasium into the auxiliary multipurpose room. The materiality and vibrant color on the envelope are a connection to both the existing apartment buildings onsite and the culture of much of the community’s residents. Location: Des Moines, IA Program: Multipurpose/Recreation Area: 3,680 SF Client: Oakridge Neighborhood Services Photo Credits: Cameron Campbell Integrated Studio
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